Numbering-machine.



PATBNTED MAY 19, 190s.

T. H. BOSS.

NUMBBRING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED ooT.1. 1902.

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No. 728,194. PATENTED MAY 19, 1903.

T. H. BOSS.

NUMBERING MACHINE.

APPLIOA'TION FILED 00T.1, 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented May 19, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY, TION OF ILLINOIS.

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORA- NUMBE'RING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 728,194, dated May 19, 1903 Application iled October l, 1902. Serial No. 125,544. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS H. BOSS, a citizen of the United States of America,and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Numbering-Machines, of which the following is a specifica- This invention relates to improvements in that class of nu mbering-machines known as automatic numbering-machines, although some of the parts may be applied to other forms of stamps.

One of my objects is to provide a machine which will prevent meddle'so'me persons from accidentallyor carelessly changing the proper sequence of numbers.

A further object is to provide a novel device for holding the parts depressed while the wheels are being set or while the pad is being inked.

It has also been my aim` to improve the means for holding the wheels in proper alinement and to provide a more easily operated device for changing the machine from a .con scent-ive machine to one that duplicates or repeats. p

With these objects and aims in view my invention consists inthe machine as shown, in the embodiment which I now consider preferable, in the accompanying drawings and as will now be hereinafter more particularly described in detail and then definitely set forth by the appended claims.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this application, Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic numbering-machine made in accordance withmy invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical central section of the same, taken at right angles to Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows the locking-ring and its coperating parts detached. Fig. iis anvenlarged sectional view of one ofthe numbering-wheels and its rollerdetent. Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the barrel and its connected parts, the section being taken at right angles to that shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the numbering-l wheels and pawl-frame detached. Fig. is a perspective View of the pawl-carrier and pawl-frame detached. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the pawl-carrier and pawl-frame. Figs. 9 and 10 are sectional and perspective views of the pawl-frame.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the mainframe, in which slides the tubular plunger 2,to which is attached the fork.. or yoke 3, carrying the numbering-wheels 4,*the ratchet-wheel 5, and the barrel 6 for supporting said wheels lland 5. The said tubular plunger2projects upward throughthe main frame 1 and contains a spring 'Z for. forcing the plunger and its connected parts upward and retaining them in their upper positions. This spring 7, as is usual in this class of numbering-machines, contacts at its upper end with the handle 9 by projecting into its hollow interior. lower end of this spring, however, instead of being simply inclosed in the tubular plunger is provided with atubular housing 10, which fits within the tubular plunger and has its, lower end closed. This housing I regard as important, as it makes a much easier working machine, reduces friction and wear, and prevents the spring within it from being seen through the Ylongitudinal slot in the tubular plunger, and therefore dirt cannot collect in the same; This closed end of the housing may rest on the usual pin projecting through the usual fixed. collar secured on the top of the main frame; but I prefer the con-4 struction shown in the drawings, which comprises a fixed collar ll, having a horizontal slot 12 therein, a movable ring 13, and a pin 14. The thumb-ring 13 is slipped over the fixed collar 11, so as to be capable of a slight rotary movement thereon, and the pin 14 isV screwed into this ring and passes through the aforesaid slot 12 iu the fixed collar 111. The ring 13 is thus permitted to be turned on the collar 11, but is limited in its movement by the length of the slot12. The ring isfprovided with a milled portion 13a, which prevents the fingers from slipping when turning the ring, as will be hereinafter explained. In addition to limiting the movement of the The ring 13 the pin 14 also passes through a longitudinal slot 15 in the tubular plunger 2 and extends, preferably, almost entirely across to the opposite wall of said plunger, and thus ICO acts as the bottom stop or support for the housing 10 of the spring 7. At the upper end of the slot 15 in the tubular plunger 2 l form a notch 16, the upper edge of which is formed inclined, and at the lower end is another recess or notch 17. These notches or recesses 16 and 17 are for the purpose of permitting the user of the machine to turn the thumb-ring to the limit of the horizontal slot 12, and thereby cause the pin 14 to enter one of the recesses 16 or 17, depending upon whether the operating-handle 9 is in its upward position or has been depressed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that if the user of the machine wishes to hold the various parts in their lowermost positions he turns the ring 13 after depressing the operating-handle, and the pin 14 enters the upper recess 16 and holds the parts depressed. As the upper edge of this recess is inclined, all that is necessary to do to release the parts and permit the spring 7 to return the parts to their normal positions is to press slightly upon the handle 9, and this causes the incline of the recess 16 to act upon the pin 14 and rotate the ring 13 until the pin 14 clears said recess, when the parts will spring upward. It frequently happens with this class of automatic machines that some meddlesome person depresses the handle 9 and moves the numbering wheels, and thus destroys the properscquence ofthe numbers. To prevent this, I employ the recess 17, heretofore mentioned as being located near the lower end of the slot 15. When a user leaves his machine temporarily, he therefore moves the ring 13 so as to project the pin 14 into said recess 17, and he may therefore leave the machine safely, as the handle E) audits connected parts are now locked into position and cannot be depressed so as to move the numbering-wheels without first moving the ring 13. I consider this extremely simple and effective ldevice a marked improvement.

I have hereinbefore referred to the uumbcring-wheels 4 and the ratchet-wheel 5 as being supported on the barrel 6. There is nothing new about the barrel or the wheels;

\ but the device for preventing the wheels from accidentally turning on the barrel and for permitting their rotation at the proper times is novel in hand numbering-machines and may be described as follows: Each of the numbering-wheels is provided with a notch, as usual, for each number on it, except that the notches are slightly larger than those now made. For each numbering-wheel there is a recess 2O in the barrel 6, and in each recess is fitted a ne coiled spring 21 and a cylindrical roller 22, the spring causing the roller to press outwardly from the center of the barrel and enter any one of the notches of its numbering-wheel, and thus prevent the latter from accidentally rotating. At the same time Whenever sutticient force is applied to the numbering-wheels they may turn, as the roller will depress the spring and enter farther into its recess and at the same time possibly turn slightly. 1 regard the rollers as much superior to the pins heretofore used, even if the latter are made spherical or ballshaped on their ends, for the reason that the roller gives a bearing-surface for the entire width of each wheel, and as the rollers also permit an easy movement without wearing friction they make a very durable construction and will not wear the wheels or themselves to any extent. I therefore regard these cylindrical rollers as an improvement in the art. The ratchet-Wheel 5 is also provided with a peculiar form of detent, although of course a roller like those just described could be used. I find, however, that it is objectionable to use any form of detent that will permit the backward movement of the idler ratchet-wheel and therefore employ detents that will permit only forward movement of said wheel. I accomplish this by forming an angular detent 23, which its into similarformed recesses 2-1 in the idler ratchet-wheel 5, the detent being forced outwardly by a coiled spring 25, as usual. It will take only a perusal of the drawings to see that this detent will move backward, compressing the spring, when the idler is moved in one direction; but owing to the relative angular formation of the detent and its recess movement in the opposite direction is impossible, and incorrect movement of the various wheels is thus prevented.

Automatic numbering-machines of the type shown in my drawings are usually provided with a pawl-carrier 28, on which is pivoted a pawl-frame 29, having a series of stepped pawls, which are held toward the ratchetwheels by a spring 30. A controlling-pawl 31 is also provided, which has several perforations, with-which coacts a spring-actuated spindle carried by the pawtframe 29, and the operator may cause this spindle to enter any one of said several perforations to vary the position of the controlling-pawl, so as to cause the machine to print consecutively, to duplicate, or to repeat. I use a somewhat similar arrangement, but dispense with the usual longitudinally-movable springactuated spindle, which is always more or less difficult to operate on account of the rninuteness of the parts, and in its place use the following simple but very handy substitute: The pawl-frame 29 is slotted longitudinally, and in this slot works a lever 33, pivoted at 31 and having a handle 35 near one end and a tinger 3b' projecting from the opposite end. This finger is in the path of several recesses 37 in the periphery of the controlling-pawl, so that by depressing on the handle 35 the finger 36 may be raised out of that one of the openings 37, and the controlling-pawl may then be moved until the linger comes over another of the recesses 37, a spring 88 being provided under the opposite end of the pivoted lever 33 to force the finger 3G back into one of the recesses. This arrange- ICO ment will be found very convenient in practical operation and overcomes the objections to the former constructions.

I have given a minute description of the various parts of my machine and have so far stated their operation in connection with the description that it is believed any further detailed statement of the operation is unnecessary. From the description already given the operation will be manifest to any one skilled in the art, and it will be evident also that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the lines of my in- Vention.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination in a printing-machine and with the handle and printing characters; of a main frame; a tubular plunger; a spring contained in said plunger for normally holding the handle and printing characters upward; and a loose tubular housing for the spring, said housing fitting within said tubular plunger; substantially as described.

2. The combination in a printing-machine; of a main frame; a tubular plunger working through said frame and carrying the printing characters on one end and the operating-handle at the opposite end; a spring contained within said plunger and arranged to force the said parts upward; and a loose tubular housing inclosing the spring and protecting the same; said plunger sliding up and down over the said housing as the plunger is moved; substantially as described.

3. The combination in a printing-machine and with a handle and printing characters; of a main frame; a tubular plunger; a spring contained in said plunger for normally holding the handle and printing characters upward; a bottom support under said spring; and a tubular housing inclosing said spring and interposed between it and said bottom support, whereby the tubular housing aiords a bearing between the spring and the bottom support; substantially as described.

4. The combination in a printing-machine; of a main frame; a spindle and printing characters; an element Vcapable of rotary Inovement with respect to said spindle; and means for securing said element to the main frame whereby it is incapable of longitudinal movement relative to said frame; said element coacting with said spindle for locking said spindle and its printing characters in position, substantially as described.

5. The combination in a printing-machine; of a main frame; a spindle and printing characters; and an element capable of rotary movement with respect to said spindle and incapable of longitudinal movement relative to said frame; said element coacting with said spindle for locking the parts in their upper or inking positions and operating independently of any longitudinal movement of said spindle; whereby meddlesome persons cannot accidentally change the sequence of the numbers; substantially as described.

6. The combination in a printing-machine; ofa main frame; a tubular spindle and printing characters; and a ring; said spindle and ring having coacting means locking the printing characters both in their upper and lower positions; substantially as described.

7. The combination in a printing-machine; of a main frame; printing characters and a tubular spindle having a slot therein with a recess near each end thereof; and a ring having means entering said slot and arranged to enter said recesses and thereby locking the printing characters either up or down; substantially as described.

8. The combination in a printing-machine; of a main frame; printing characters and a tubular spindle having a slot with a recess therein; said slot having an inclined upper edge; and a ring carried by the frame and having means projecting through said slot and arranged to enter said recess and there,

by lock the printing charactersin position; substantially as described.

9. The combination in a printing-machine;

of a main frame carrying axed collar with a slot therein; a tubular spindle connected with the printing characters and passing through said fixed collar; said spindle having a slot with a recess therein; and a ring surrounding said collar and having a pin passing through its slot into the slot in said tubular spindle; substantially as described.

10. The combination in a printing-machine, of a main frame carrying a fixed collar with a slot therein; a tubular spindle connected with the printing characters and passing through said iixed collar; said spindle having a slot with a recess near each end thereof; and a ring surrounding said collar and having a pin passing through its slotinto the slot in said tubular spindle; substantially as described.

l1. The combinationin a printing-machine; of a main frame carrying a fixed collar with a slot therein; a tubular spindle connected with .the printing characters and passing through said collar and having a slot therein; a movable ring surrounding said collar and having a pin passing through the slot in said collar; said ring and its pin also coacting with the slot in said tubular spindle to lock the parts in their upper position; substantial] y as described,

12. In a printing-machine; the combination of a series of pawls; a controlling-pawl having a series of notches or recesses; and a longitudinally-disposed latch connected to the series of pawls and having its end movable laterally into the notches in the said controlling-pawl; thereby locking the controllingpawl with the series of pawls; substantially as described.

13. Inaprinting-machine;the combination of a series of pawls; a controlling-pawl having a series of notches or recesses; a longitudinally-disposed latch pivoted to said series of pawls and having its end movable lat- IOO IIO

IZO

erally into said notches or recesses, thereby locking said controlling-pawl to said series of pawls; and a spring for holding said lever With its end in one of said notches o11 recesses; substantially as described.

14. In a printing-machine; the combination of a series of pawls; a controlling-pam and a series of radial notches or recesses; a latch connected with said series of pawls and having one end movable into said radial notches and its other end forming a handle by which said latch may be operated; substantially as described.

15. Ina printing-machine; the combination of a series of paWls; a controlling-pand Inovable With relation to said series of pawls and having a series of radial notches or recesses; and a latch pivoted to the series of pawls and extending longitudinally of the saine; one end of the latch moving radially into said radial notches or recesses and the other end of the latch formed into a handle by which the latch may be operated; substantially as described.

Signed by me at Chicago, Illinois, this 27th day of September, 1902.

THOMAS Il. BOSS. Witnesses:

E. C. HAMBURGHER, R. A. STEWART. 

